Real Name: Ben Curtis
Salary Deal : $50,000
Known only as the Dell Dude, Benjamin Curtis was born in Tennessee and starred in a series of well-received, though now quite outdated, commercials for Dell. He managed to get the role despite being three years over the age range Dell wanted. He popularized the saying “Dude, you’re getting a Dell,” which tells you what era of recent history this ad series ran. His contract ended in 2003, but he received a $50,000 salary.
Actor fact: Before he even started as an actor, Curtis was an incredibly talented magician. Since ending with Dell, Curtis has had plenty of roles, though all of them fairly brief.
The Red Robin Lady
Real Name: Melanie Paxson
Salary Deal : $50,250
Paxson is a commercial veteran, appearing in commercials for Gladware before Red Robin got their mitts on her. She was born in Illinois and acted for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and has been onscreen since the 1990s, appearing in Early Edition and starring as Jaclyn in Cupid from 98-99.
She's also been in The Drew Carey Show, Joey, Kitchen Confidential, CSI, Rules of Engagement, The Exes, and Medium. She currently has a recurring role in the NBC show Happy Family, as “Sara Brennan.” Her current deal with Red Robin is a little over $50,000.
Hot Construction Worker Drinking Diet Coke
Real Name: John Vanous
Salary Deal: $1 million
With just one shirtless scene, John Vanous turned the commercial world upside down in 1994, appearing as a hot construction worker who takes a break to crack open a Diet Coke, catching the eye of the ladies in the office building nearby – a spoof on the often-mocked and very much overdone “hot girl” ad campaigns.
Vanous has since shot several commercials for Coke. He served in the US army before starting as a model in New York. He's appeared in a number of non-commercial projects, including 18 Wheels of Justice as Chance Bowman and Pacific Palisades as Matt Dunning. Vanous got a million dollars for cracking a Coke and looking good.
The “That's a Spicy Meatball” Guy
Real Name: Jack Somack
Salary Deal : $10,000
Born in 1918 in Chicago, Jack Somack is not only known for the few classic movies he's appeared in, but also for this famous ad, which has him appear as the Italian man who exclaims in a bright manner: “Mamma mia, that's a spicy meatball!” for ten grand.
It was a slogan for Alka-Seltzer – after a spicy meatball, you might have heartburn. Somack's movies include The Frisco Kid, Sanford and Son, Carlton Your Doorman, Desperate Characters, Portnoy's Complaint, and more. He passed away in 1983, but we will always remember him for his work, and for telling us just how spicy that meatball is. RIP.
The Target Lady
Real Name: Maria Bamford
Salary Deal : $300,000
Maria Bamford wears plenty of hats in the entertainment industry, including as a stand-up artist, a voice actress, and a film actor. Her first comedy album was 'The Burning Bridges Tour', and four years later 'How to WIN!' followed. Her first movie role was Lucky Numbers, in 2000, before she switched to voice-acting.
Her Target deal brought in $300,000, but you might be more familiar with the variety of animated voices she has provided, including American Dad!, Bojack Horseman, CatDog, and Adventure Time. In 2015 she was in the movie Hell & Back.